Raptors

According to Brian Switek,

A raptor can take an entire clip of automatic weapon rounds to the chest and only seem slightly annoyed by it.

He’s a real-for-life paleontology person, so he should know. More importantly, he just watched Raptor Island (2004). All the more reason to impress upon the children that raptors do not know fear.

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7 Responses to “Raptors”

  1. The raptors in that move don’t have the emotional capacity for even feeling annoyance. They’re Vulcan raptors or something. I’m pretty sure I heard one of them say, “Fascinating,” while being shot at ineffectually by the main characters.

    Joshua said this on October 15th, 2007 at 13:39 pm

  2. But of course if they had supersoakers full of grape juice, it would have been a different story.

    Joshua said this on October 15th, 2007 at 13:40 pm

  3. For those joining our program already in progress, the background to the “grape juice” remark can be found here. Dr. Daniel Snyder of Knox College writes,

    It is widely known in the field of agronomy (e.g., Avery, 2002) that birds are repulsed by methyl anthranilate, a natural compound found in many of the less sweet fruit varieties. Methyl anthranilate has been used (with some success) as a bird repellent on crops. Now, we know (e.g., Gauthier et al., 1988) that modern birds are descended from dinosaurian ancestors, of which one close relative was Velociraptor (ibid.). Much as lab rats respond to drugs like humans, it is entirely possible that Velociraptor will respond to methyl anthranilate as does the common crow or European starling.

    Avery’s paper is also available.

    Blake Stacey said this on October 15th, 2007 at 13:52 pm

  4. I thought this was going to lead to an xkcd reference. Pity.

    Jon said this on October 17th, 2007 at 18:50 pm

  5. Jon:

    Didn’t you click on the “raptors do not show fear” link?

    Blake Stacey said this on October 17th, 2007 at 18:53 pm

  6. And if I had read the entire post, I would’ve seen that reference!

    :)

    Jon said this on October 17th, 2007 at 18:55 pm

  7. Ah well, I overlook more important things every day!

    (-:

    Blake Stacey said this on October 17th, 2007 at 19:21 pm